Basel winger and reported Arsenal target Mohamed Elyounoussi has revealed that he wishes to play in the Premier League and that a big English club has been monitoring his progress. That club is believed to be Arsenal.

The Norwegian international is reportedly valued at £18million by his Swiss club, where he has impressed this season. He has scored seven times and also produced an assist this season for Basel in all competitions.

One of those goals came against Premier League leaders Manchester City in a 2-1 Champions League win at the Etihad Stadium.

Wanted by a Premier League club

On the interest from a Premier League club, Mohamed Elyounoussi is quoted by the Daily Star, as saying: “A club which is usually in the Premier League top four has followed me for a long time.

“I just learned that they have stepped up their interest even more after what happened in the Champions League.

“Is it Arsenal? I can’t comment, but it is a club that everybody knows with a long history. A big club that has watched me a couple of times before, but they have now increased their interest in me.

Doubts over Wenger could affect move

Elyounoussi is highly-rated and seems like the sort player that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger used to buy and develop. However, the veteran French boss’s future in north London is the subject of great speculation.

The Norwegian no doubt has scope for improvement in the future. He obviously fancies his chances of playing in the English top-flight. The likes of Southampton and Leicester have both also been mooted as prospective destinations for the Moroccan-born star. The Gunners would surely be a more attractive prospect than either of the above clubs.

Arsenal needs real quality this summer

While Elyounoussi could be a highly talented player in the future, he is unlikely to improve upon the players who are already at the club. Arsenal needs to sign players for the present, not just for the future.

For too long the quality of the Gunners signings has been questionable. The January transfer window showed that the club from north London could sign quality players with the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

I doubt signing players like Elyounoussi will push the team back into top-four contention, let alone title contention.